A highly skilled, relationship driven, passionate and fun staff
All RSI faculty members go through a detailed credentialing process that includes alignment to our mission, vision and values, classroom training and subject matter testing. They are not only experts in their areas, but are masterful at making learning fun for the students. This is primary at RSI. Equally as important, they walk alongside students in times of need and trouble to help build their leadership skills as well as social and emotional strength. Fair, but firm is standard practice here because we care about each student as an individual and are dedicated to the success and potential of every child.
Administration
Mrs. Amezcua
Campus Director
Mrs. Amezcua
Mrs. Amezcua graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Child and Adolescent Development. Throughout her years in the university, Mrs. Amezcua spent 2 years on the board for Student California Teachers Association, a department mentor, and would volunteer at a low-income school in Santa Ana. Mrs. Amezcua has four years of experience working with preschool and school- aged children here at RSI and other school settings. She strives to provide an excellent education experience to every child. When Mrs. Amezcua has spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the movies, amusement parks and traveling.
Ms. Bleeker
K-12 Coordinator
Ms. Bleeker
Ms. Bleeker is a Southern California native, having grown up in Orange, CA. Her desire to help others thrive in their daily lives led her to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Vanguard University of Southern California. Over the last six years, she has gained experience in educational administration, adolescent development, and person-centered care. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature, reading poetry, and trying new recipes.
Ms. Hong
Administrative Assistant & Enrichment Coordinator
Ms. Hong
Ms. Hong was born in Vietnam and grew up in Orange County, CA. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Child and Adolescent Development. She has over 17 years of experience working with school-aged children. Her passion is to help children and families thrive. Ms. Hong believes in building authentic relationships with parents and working in partnership for the best interest of each child to help them be successful. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, her two daughters, painting kindness rocks, doing crafts, and being in nature.
Mrs. Mizera
Executive Director
Mrs. Mizera
Mrs. Mizera brings a blend of business acumen and a passion for education excellence to the Renascence School International. She was educated in the U.S. and China and received a Bachelor of Science degree from University of California, Irvine. In addition to working in the investment management field, she is a past President of the Orange County Chinese American Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Mizera believes learning is fun and is passionate about providing Orange County children with an education option that combines advanced academics and foreign language learning.
Ms. Peng
HR and Accounting
Ms. Peng
Ms. Peng brings new vitality to RSI that encompasses a breadth of experience as a professional in the accounting and finance fields. At RSI, Ms. Peng has the opportunity to bring together her expertise in accounting and her passion for education. Ms. Peng earned B.A. degrees in both Finance and Business Administration from Cal State, Northridge while minoring in marketing and economics. Subsequently, she earned her master’s degree in Professional Accountancy at UC, Irvine and became CPA eligible upon graduation. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, swimming, good food, and time with her friends and family.
Ms. Sanchez
Admissions Coordinator
Ms. Sanchez
Ms. Sanchez grew up in Southern California and has 5 years of experience working in the field of Child Development. She has worked with children ranging from infants through age six. Ms. Sanchez believes that learning can be fun, and is invested in providing a loving, nourishing and positive environment for the students. She encourages children to express themselves through creative play, art, communication and more. Ms. Sanchez enjoys supporting her staff and students every day. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, cooking, hiking and exploring new places. You may also find her on Pinterest always looking for new ideas!
Preschool
RSI Preschool Staff
transitioned to ECRSI. You can visit the ECRSI website here: https://seasidecostamesapreschool.com
Elementary, Middle School & High School
Bobo Laoshi
C11 and C12 Chinese Teacher, and Chinese Marketing
Zheng Laoshi (Bobo Laoshi)
Zheng Laoshi grew up on the vast grasslands of Inner Mongolia, China, and studied Chinese Language Arts at Nanjing University. Before coming to the United States, Zheng Laoshi worked in a Chinese TV station for more than 25 years where he trained rigorously to have perfect pronunciation in Mandarin Chinese. As a well-known TV host in China, he has years of experience as a media producer related to Chinese culture and history. Zheng Loashi is passionate about researching Chinese culture/history and loves sharing his knowledge with the next generations by using his previous media experience to bridge the East and the West. When Zheng Laoshi is not working, he enjoys reading, playing sports, and watching movies with his family.
Mrs. Cox
C11, C12, and C13 English Teacher
Mrs. Cox
Mrs. Kerrigan-Cox has taught English literature, grammar, and writing to high school students and to international students studying in the Intensive English Program at the University of California Irvine Extension. Mrs. Cox completed a double major at Stanford University, receiving her Bachelor’s Degree with distinction in English and Human Biology. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Stanford University and a California Secondary Teaching Credential. As the mother of three elementary age children, Mrs. Cox is keenly interested in early childhood and elementary education. She loves reading, cooking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Mr. Fedalizo
K-12 PE Teacher and Athletic Coordinator
Mr. Fedalizo
Mr. Fedalizo is a native Northern Californian from the city of Cupertino (home to Apple). He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, till he was 5 years old, then moved back to California. Mr. J was a competitive gymnast for 20 years where he had the opportunity to compete for the Filipino National Gymnastics Team in Singapore. He studied Kinesiology at West Valley College and has been coaching kids from 5 years old to 18 years old for the past 10 years. Mr. Fedalizo likes to assist in developing and inspiring young adults to do the impossible! It has always been his passion to make a positive impact on the younger generation.
Sra. Ferrand
L10, C6, C7, and C8 Spanish Teacher, K-12 Spanish Academic Support
Sra. Ferrand
Sra. Madeleine Ferrand is a native Spanish speaker from Peru and an experienced school teacher. She received her Bachelor’s in Special Education from Unife ( Lima, Peru ). Sra. Ferrand believes learning a new language increases creativity and opens hundreds of new opportunities! This is why she loves sharing her experience and knowledge of the beautiful language of Spanish with kids! In my spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Mrs. Flournoy
Student Service Coordinator and C7 English and History Teacher
Mrs. Flournoy
Mrs. Flournoy is a “third culture kid.” She was born in Brazil, and at age five her family became missionairies and moved to Mozambique. From her experiences here and abroad, she has seen how a nurturing and safe environment can encourage children to reach their full potential. Mrs. Flournoy received her Associate of Arts degree from Orange Coast College with an emphasis in Communication. She has since continued to study early childhood development to pursue a career as a preschool teacher. Mrs. Flournoy is passionate about making a difference in the lives of the next generation. She enjoys incorporating art and music in the classroom, and encourages children to use their imaginations in all aspects of learning.
Mr. Grajales
C8, C9, C10 English and History Teacher, and C11,C12 and C13 History Teacher
Mr. Grajales
Mr. Grajales was born in Cali, Colombia, and raised in Costa Mesa after moving here at the age of five. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Temple University in Japan where he lived for two years. While overseas, he was humbled by the power of education to transcend language and culture. Mr. Grajales graduated with his masters from Chapman University where he earned his teaching credential as a multiple subject teacher while also working as an in-home behavioral therapist. As an educator for more than five years, the only things Mr. Grajales likes as much as learning are music, traveling, and chocolate. He believes education is a personal journey for each student, and it’s his job to support that success.
Lin Laoshi
L10 and C6 Chinese Teacher
Lin Laoshi
I am Lin Laoshi (Sabrina). I was born and raised in China. I first developed a love for teaching during my college years. Then I decided to pursue a teaching career and spent years volunteer teaching at college and church. I graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Child and Adolescent Development. I also obtained the American Montessori Society Certificate from UC, Irvine and worked at a Montessori school. I have been working with students for 6 years now. Teaching is my passion and I love to see young children growing and learning. I believe that each child is individually unique. Therefore, it is important to understand each child’s interests and potential. My goal is to create a fun, secure, safe, and warm environment for children to learn and develop their social, emotional, and cognitive skills. In my spare time, I love to cook, travel, explore museums, and learn new things! I also love teaching Chinese! I am very excited to be your Chinese teacher this year. I am looking forward to teaching, supporting, and building a relationship with the students and parents by providing the best and most fun educational experience.
Ms. Juang
C11, C12, C13, C14 Science Teacher, Invention Coordinator, and Debate Club Advisor
Ms. Juang
Ms. Hannah Juang was born and raised in San Jose, CA. Her parents were immigrants from Taiwan so she grew up immersed in Chinese culture. She graduated with a B.A. degree in Molecular Biology from Scripps College in Claremont, CA and received her M.A. in Education from UC Irvine. Ms. Juang also has more than 4 years of experience coaching middle and high school students in speech and debate. Ms. Juang became passionate about teaching after she taught middle schoolers biology at a summer enrichment program in college. Her favorite part about teaching is forming relationships with students as they learn and explore. When Ms. Juang is not in the classroom, she enjoys reading, dancing, playing tennis, and spending time with friends and family.
Ms. Ramos
L10 and C6 English Teacher
Ms. Ramos
Ms. Ramos graduated from the University of La Verne with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development and a Master’s Degree in Education. Ms. Ramos’s experience of working with children began in high school as a volunteer for the ASES program where she provided students with teaching that was active, collaborative, and meaningful. Since then, Ms. Ramos was able to develop a great passion for serving children and learning the ways children learn and grow, both academically and mentally. Ms. Ramos’s philosophy is to provide each student with a safe and fun environment that will allow them to receive academic support, participate in new enrichment opportunities, and learn positive social values. Besides being in the classroom, Ms. Ramos loves to work out, travel, and spend time with friends and family.
Shao Laoshi
L10 and C9 Math Teacher, C6 Science Teacher
Shao Laoshi
Shao Laoshi is an experienced educator from China. She has seven years of teaching experience in Chinese language and math with young elementary-age children. Shao Laoshi has a passion for teaching students and creating a stimulating and motivating learning environment. She loves to engage students and help them find their love for learning. In particular, Shao Laoshi has a strong belief in learning Chinese in an immersive environment, where students can naturally adapt the language to their everyday lives. Shao Laoshi will teach math and science through active classroom interactions and joint student exploration. She is excited to help her students master the practical applications of Chinese in math and science.
Tian Laoshi
L10 and C7 Science Teacher, and C9 Chinese Teacher
Tian Laoshi
Tian Laoshi graduated from Hua Dong Normal University in Shanghai, where she majored in Education and Chinese Literature. Teaching is her passion and she loves children. Tian Laoshi has over 20 years teaching and tutoring experience. She taught for 17 years in a famous experimental elementary school in Jiangsu Province China, and 7 years here in the states. She loves to teach, encourage, help, and support children to learn the Chinese Language and explore knowledge. One of the most rewarding and meaningful things in her career is helping students to grow their passion and abilities during their learning journey! In Tian Laoshi’s free time she loves traveling with her family. Reading and writing is her hobby, she enjoys listening to music. Fruit is her favorite food.
Sra. Valenzuela
C9, C10, C11, C12, C14, and C15 Spanish Teacher
Sra. Valenzuela
Sra. Valenzuela was born and raised in Lima, Peru. She became a lawyer and practiced law in her home country for 10 years before moving to Huntington Beach, CA where she now resides. She has taught Spanish at different levels for children and adults since 2015 when she founded Gate Languages. Sra. Valenzuela has pursued post-graduate education at the Peruvian Catholic University, Harvard University, Pepperdine University, and the University of California, Irvine. She is passionate about teaching languages with cultural components, especially Spanish, to children because she believes that multilingual citizens can most effectively foster understanding and tolerance among nations, thus bettering their communities and the world at large.
Xiong Laoshi
C7, C8, and C10 Chinese Teacher, and Elementary Chinese Coordinator
Xiong Laoshi
Xiong Laoshi earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese Literature and Education from Sichuan Normal University in China. She pursued her post bachelor study at California State University Long Beach, where she received a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Chinese. Xiong Laoshi enjoys teaching Chinese to students of all different levels and backgrounds. Years of teaching experience has developed in her a love for helping students find their inner strength and embrace their full potential.
Zhang Laoshi
C13, C14, and C16 Chinese Teacher
Zhang Laoshi
Zhou Laoshi
C6, C7, C8, and C10 Math Teacher, and Academic/Student Support
Zhou Laoshi
Zhou Laoshi was born and raised in Shanghai, China, where she graduated from Nantong High Normal College with an Associate of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. Later, she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Shanghai International Studies University. Zhao Laoshi taught in China for over 10 years before teaching at St. Anne School in Orange County for 2 years. Her love for teaching sprouts from her joyful interactions with children. She enjoys seeing their curious faces transform into knowledgeable smiles. The children’s sweet voices and inquisitiveness drive her passion to teach. Zhou Laoshi’s teaching style employs a strong responsibility. In her spare time, Zhou Laoshi loves reading, biking, playing tennis with her family!
Elementary & Middle School Support Staff
Yu Laoshi
Chinese Academic Support and Chinese Marketing Coordinator
Yu Laoshi
Yu Laoshi was born and raised in China and has been a teacher for over 10 years. She has taught over 2,000 students from Pre-K to adults with diverse backgrounds and cultural contexts. Yu Laoshi got the Master of Arts degree in Teaching from the University of Southern California and she is skilled at building connections with students and imparting academic information. Yu Laoshi considers herself a foodie and she loves traveling and encountering different cultures.
Sra. Barrera
Spanish TA
Sra. Barrera
Sra. Barrera was born and raised in Mexico. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in Modern Languages from the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla. Sra. Barrera has experience teaching both Spanish and English, in public and private schools. In 2005, she was accepted by the Institute of International Education in New York to teach her native language to children in a Spanish immersion school in Minnesota. Since then, Sra. Barrera developed a passion for teaching young language learners. As a language educator, she strives to teach the different varieties of the target language and the culture of its speakers, as well as positively contributing to the learning process and personal growth of her students. In her free time, Sra. Barrera enjoys reading, working out, and learning something new.